A graffiti wall and local bands – how charity shop is being transformed to appeal to young people

A CHARITY shop in Winton is being transformed with a graffiti wall and music from local bands to appeal to young people.

The Lewis-Manning Hospice store, on Wimborne Road, was closed until Wednesday, May 28, while the good cause’s new charity shop consultant, Louise Croft, used her creative and entrepreneurial flair to revamp the interiors.

Former Bath University business graduate Louise says she wanted to update the charity’s 10 shops, so each will have their own individual style, starting with the Winton branch, which was also due to get new flooring, lights and fittings.

She said: “Although ultimately we want the stores to bring in more money, my remit from Lewis-Manning is also about making a connection with the community and making each shop unique and specific to the area. The aim is to move away from a chain shop model and make them individual and full of personality, while still highlighting the Lewis-Manning brand.”

Louise added: “Winton has a very large student population, so we aim to target that market and reflect it in the shop interior. Think 60 Million Postcards with a graffiti wall.”

Louise has also been approached by Rhianna Matthews, a Bournemouth and Poole College student, who will be helping with window displays over the summer before she goes on to study visual merchandising at university.

Lewis-Manning Hospice offers free palliative care to over 650 local people living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses. It receives approximately 20 per-cent of its funding from a contact with NHS Dorset CCG, with the remaining £65,000 a month being raised by the hospice through fundraising initiatives and donations, as well as its shops.

A grand opening event for the shop too place, featuring live music from bands including Chris Rogers, Cappella and Not Made in China, as well as food, drink and stylists.

For more information on the charity and its shops go to www.lewis-manning.co.uk.